Early life experiences crucially define cognitive and mental health function throughout life. Childhood and adolescence are the predominant age of onset for the majority of mental disorders and are periods during which key brain areas involved in emotional processing are maturing. Still, it is unclear how these changes in brain development influence circuit function and as a consequence affect behaviour and the onset of mental illness. Our research focuses on understanding how the maturation of sensitive brain circuits underlies the emergence of complex behaviour and sensitivity to stress in mice. We are exploring this using a combination of patch clamp recordings, immunohistochemistry, behaviour, and in vitro and in vivo optogenetics.

Our lab uses a systems level approach to explore the relationship between the maturation of sensitive brain circuits, the emergence of complex behaviour, and stress sensitivity in mice.